Afrobeats sensation Tiwa Savage has opened up about the difficulties she encountered while transitioning from R&B to Afrobeats following her return to Nigeria in 2012.
Before relocating, Savage had built her early career abroad, notably working as a backup vocalist for Mary J. Blige. Drawn by the rapid growth of Nigeria’s music industry, she moved back home and later signed with Mavin Records.
Speaking during a recent interview on Arise TV, the singer behind “Kele Kele Love” admitted that adapting to the local sound was not easy at first.
She credited her former label boss, Don Jazzy, for playing a pivotal role in reshaping her musical direction.
According to Savage, Don Jazzy encouraged her to break out of her R&B comfort zone and explore a broader range of sounds, helping her realize that her talent was not confined to one genre.
Despite the initial challenges, the singer expressed no regrets about her decision to return to Nigeria and embrace Afrobeats, a move that ultimately defined her rise as one of the genre’s leading voices.
